CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The second-seeded Campbellsville University Lady Tigers hosted the seventh-seeded LSU Shreveport Pilots on Saturday afternoon in the Second Round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament. Fueled by a distinct advantage in second-chance points and a relentless team defensive effort, the Lady Tigers punched their ticket to the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 66-59 victory at the Powell Athletic Center.
- Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures: Hallie Allen led the way with a game-and-career-high 19 points, followed by Tyra Flowers with 14 and Lainey Johnson with 12.
- Tyra Flowers anchored the interior, leading Campbellsville with eight rebounds (four offensive) to go along with three steals and a block.
- The Lady Tigers showcased exceptional ball movement, highlighted by Hallie Allen and Whitney Hay, who each dished out 5 assists.
- Campbellsville outperformed LSU Shreveport in several critical hustle categories, winning the rebounding battle 27-24 and outscoring the Pilots 12-4 in second-chance points and 29-25 in points off turnovers.
- With the victory, the Lady Tigers advance to the NAIA Championship final site in Sioux City, Iowa, where they will battle the winner of the UT Southern and Spring Arbor match-up on Friday, March 20th, at 9 p.m. ET in the Round of 16.
Campbellsville opened the contest with an explosive 7-0 run, highlighted by a
Dea Bradley transition layup and five quick points from
Hallie Allen, forcing an early LSU Shreveport timeout. The Pilots quickly settled in, however, and answered the bell to draw within a single point. LSU Shreveport's Paula Gonzalez Herrero became a force on the court, racking up double digits early in the frame to help the Pilots take hold of the momentum. Allen's sharp shooting from distance kept Campbellsville within striking distance, narrowing the gap to finish the first quarter trailing by just one point, 21-20.
Although
Tyra Flowers and
Kinsley Molden came into the second quarter converting key opportunities to reclaim the Lady Tigers' lead, a 7-0 run by the Pilots flipped the scoreboard once more. Relying on their perimeter shooting, Allen and
Lainey Johnson connected from beyond the arc to return the advantage to Campbellsville. LSU Shreveport struggled to maintain possession against the Lady Tigers' defensive pressure, coughing up turnovers that Campbellsville repeatedly converted into scoring opportunities. The final minutes of the period saw strong defensive stands on both ends, preventing either team from establishing an offensive rhythm until Johnson sealed the half. With just two seconds left on the clock, Johnson drained a clutch jumper to send Campbellsville into the locker room with a 38-32 lead.
The Pilots were the first to strike in the second half, opening the third frame with a jumper by Katie Ambrose. However, Campbellsville responded emphatically. Ten straight points, fueled by aggressive takes to the rim from Bradley and Allen, pushed LSU Shreveport further into a deficit, securing a 14-point advantage for the Lady Tigers at 48-34. Campbellsville's agility and disciplined rotations preserved their double-digit upper hand as the final quarter approached. The Pilots attempted to claw their way back into the contest but were consistently deterred by the Lady Tigers' relentless defensive pressure, closing the third period with Campbellsville leading 52-42.
LSU Shreveport's Ally Fleenor and Selma Markisic stepped into the fourth quarter with a sense of urgency, scoring from both short and long range within the opening minute of the period to slice into the lead. Allen immediately retaliated with another critical three-pointer, which was followed by an individual seven-point surge from Flowers, who dominated the offensive glass and earned repeated trips to the free-throw line to keep Campbellsville comfortably ahead halfway through the quarter. The Pilots put up a valiant fight down the stretch, converting late baskets, but they could not overcome Campbellsville's insurmountable advantage and steady execution at the charity stripe.
